Jelani Maraj’s defense team plan to turn his rape trial into a $25 million extortion trial starring his superstar sister, Nicki Minaj.
Page Six reports Nicki will be the star witness in her brother’s defense after 37 year old Jelani Maraj was indicted for “felony predatory sexual assault against a child, felony sexual conduct against a child under age 13, sexual misconduct against a child, and endangering the welfare of a child”.
According to prosecutors, Jelani raped his 11 year old stepdaughter at least “4 times a week” for a period of months. DNA testing showed Jelani’s fluid’s inside the 11 year old’s pajama pants.
According to Page Six, the alleged sexual abuse was first brought to light by his 8 year old stepson who was beaten after he walked in on Jelani having sex with his sister in the guest bedroom. Child services launched an investigation and the 11 year girl reportedly told police in detail how Jelani repeatedly abused her.
Jelani’s wife, Jacqueline Robinson, who’s the mother of the victim reportedly told Nicki Minaj “I can make the charges go away for $25 million”, says Jelani’s lawyer, David Schwartz.
Schwartz also claims Jelani’s wife set him up and planted his DNA in her daughter’s pajama pants to frame him.
Schwartz’s law firm cofounder and partner at “Gerstman Schwartz & Malito – A Government Relations and Litigation Firm”, confirmed this turn of the trial by sharing the Page Six article, saying:
“If you had the [opportunity] like I did today to watch my dear friend and law partner David Schwartz in action, you were treated with the very best in trial advocacy. His opening was captivating and hit the mark perfectly. If you only listened to the prosecution’s opening, you would’ve thought the defense should just curl up in a ball and raise a white flag. But instead Dave came out firing with the real narrative of how Nicki Minaj was the victim of a $25 mil shakedown, and you immediately realized this case is not nearly what the prosecution made it out to be. David is a world class advocate in the truest sense of the word.”